Ronald F. Baker

Lt. Colonel (Ret) Ronald F. Baker, 66, of Morganton died Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. Born Oct. 27, 1945 in Shenandoah County, VA, he was a son of the late Roland Franklin Baker and Kathryn McCoy Baker. Ronald was raised in The Christian Church in Woodstock, VA. He was a 1964 graduate of Central High School in Woodstock, and then graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1972. Ronald was a 27 year veteran of the US Army and served in the Vietnam Conflict. After his war service, he worked with the Army Reserves in Charlotte, NC until returning to active duty in 1979. He went on to serve at the Pentagon, where he was subsequently promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1992. He retired from active duty in 1994 as a member of the 108th Division in Charlotte and was awarded the American Legion of Merit.A loving husband and father, he is survived by his wife, Virginia Leslie Duckworth Baker of the home; a son, Eric F. Baker of Morganton; a daughter, Kiki Baker-Herr of California; brother, Terry Baker and wife, Carolyn of Woodstock, VA; brother-in-law, Carl L. Duckworth of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, Ronald was preceded in death by a sister, Chellis Baker Shirkey.The family will receive friends Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m., Thursday, June 14, 2012 at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Memorial & Tributes Processing Center, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216, or to the American Diabetes Association, Always & Forever Memorial Program, 222 South Church St., Suite 336M, Charlotte, NC 28202.